How to Carve Out an Entryway in a Small Space

Creating a Moment to Meet Guests and Invite Them in…

When you live in a small home, the process of how to carve out an entryway can be tricky. However, not difficult. Since living in our rental home, I’ve learnt a trick or two when it comes to carving out designated areas when they don’t have their own physical room.

I’ve always dreamed of having a grand entryway, a space to collect parcels and greet guests. This might be some way off until we buy our own house. So in the meantime, as I’ve recently spoken about on my YouTube channel, you’ve got to make do with what you’ve got. So here is how to carve out an entryway in my small home…

Select an Entryway Table.

One of the most important pieces of furniture you can get for your entryway is a console table. This piece will help you both functionally and aesthetically. It’s an anchor to a room, somewhere to draw the eye too. However, it is also somewhere to place your things when you walk through the door, a surface to decorate and host practical items.

I like to decorate my console table with three things, a scent, a tray and decor. The scent is something that will define the space. I always go with a diffuser, safer than a candle. The tray is to catch your keys, loose change, anything you need to keep in one place where it won’t make the table look cluttered. Finally, some decor. I love to decorate the entryway with some faux florals, you can forget about them and they will always look fabulous.

Shop Entryway Tables.

Place a Stool.

I love a stool in an entryway. Every entryway should have one, it’s a place to sit and put on shoes or drop your bag off at the end of the day. Sadly, I don’t have room to fit a stool in the entryway I’ve carved out as I have the back of the sofa to lean on. However, once I have the space, I will totally be adding some to my entryway.

When it comes to stools, I’d go with fabric ones, to play off against the texture of the wooden table. I’d also go opposite the shape of your table. So rectangle table, circular stools and vice versa.

Upgrade Your Lighting.

Lighting is so important to a home. When you carve out an entryway in a joint space, it can be tricky to do so. In the case of our home, if I could fit a table lamp on our entryway table. When it comes to our next makeover of the space, I’m thinking of incorporating some form of wall light, just something small to designate the space as the entryway in our living room.

If you’re able to, I’d recommend adding a table lamp as well as changing out the overhead light. You want a functional, eye-catching piece that will act as a jewel on your ceiling.

Hang a Mirror.

Much like the lighting, when you carve out an entryway, a mirror is an important part of the room. A mirror will make a small space seem bigger and bounce light around the room. For our entryway, we don’t have one, as our living room is so small that the one over our fireplace is big enough. If this is the case for the space where you want to carve out an entryway, then place artwork where you would place the mirror.

Naturally, the mirror would sit above the entryway table. Alternatively, place a long free-standing mirror next to the console table so you can see your full outfits before you leave for the day.

Define the Space with a Runner.

I love a rug in any room, especially in an entryway. It helps ground the room, defining the space. With a runner in an entryway, your eyes are drawn across the room, allowing you to see the rest of the home. With the rug, you want to go as wide as possible. It’s a crime to see a too-small rug in a room.

In terms of the type of rug, you’ll want a tight woven rug, as it’s a high traffic area. Colour-wise, go with anything that will complicate the room. For me, it’s all about the neutrals, to compliment the style of my home.